Adjustable paint brush



United States Paten-ff ADJUSTABLE PAINT BRUSH Salvatore Di Giacomo, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 4, 1955, Serial No. 498,899

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-172) The present invention relates broadly to paint and like brushes having an adjustable brush head that may be disposed at various angles to the brush handle, and is more specifically concerned with improved means for re taining said adjustable brush head in any particular angle ofadjustment to which it may be moved.

Brushes with adjustable brush heads are known, having been proposed for many uses, such as for painting or cleaning of hard to reach and out of the way places, as behind radiators and the like. However, it does not appear that such prior proposals have achieved commercial acceptance for a variety of reasons, principally, it is believed because of the costly construction and the use of highly complicated means for retaining the brush head in adjusted position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paint or like brush, embodying an elongated handle and an adjustable brush head, with means of particularly economical manufacture and assembly for firmly holding the brush head at any desired angle relative to the elongated handle.

Itis another object of the present invention to provide a paint or like brush of the character above defined that is pleasing in appearance and of substantially the sume appearance as a conventional brush having a non-adjust able brush head.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a paint or like brush of the character above defined that is of substantially the same size as a vconventional brush having a non-adjustable brush head, and one which is free of any cumbersome appendage'.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a paint or like brush, embodying an elongated handle and an adjustable brush head`wi t`h means for rinlyhold ing the brush head in any position of adjustment relative to the handle, i. e. from` a position wherein the brush head extends in longitudinal alignment with the handle to a position where thebrushhead is at an angle of 90 relative to the handle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a paint or like brush of the character described, wherein the means for firmly holding the brush head in any position of adjustment with respect to the handle comprises a laterally flexible but longitudinally rigid band, preferably a flexible sheet metal band, fixed .to the brush head and slidable with respect to the handle, and a retainer for frictionally holding or clamping the band to the brush handle normally to prevent sliding relative thereto.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the retainer above referred to comprise a guide channel fixed to the handle slidably to receive the flexible band and frictionally to grip the edges of the band. In another embodment of the invention the brush is provided with a longitudinal slot which receives a screw threaded into the handle, the screw when loosened accommodating movement of the band, and when tightened clamping the band to the handle.

In either embodiment, the brush is of substantially j 2,835,913' Patented May 27, 1958 flexible band by the users thumbwithout the user enf` countering paint or other material for which the brush is being used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will part be obvious, and Vin part will hereinafter appear, and

they consist generally in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement oi parts, which will be exemplified in lthe constructions to be described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings in which is shown the preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a brush embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the brush of Figure l, this figure illustrating the adjustable brush head in solid lines at substantially a 45. angle relative to the brush handle, and in dotted lines at p a angle relative to the brush handle, and also in dotted lines in longitudinal alignment with the brush handle, the View being taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure l; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View of the brush of Figure l, taken substantially along the line 3-3 thereof; and

Figure 4 is a fragmetary front elevational View of a modified form of the brush of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein` sim- 4ilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout Ithe several views:

The brush of the present invention embodies an elongated handle member Il and an adjustable brush head 2.

The handle l is preferably of elongated character, and of such a length as to permit the brush head extend into hard to reach and out of the way places, such as behind radiators and the like. The handle may be formed from any preferred material, and in the present instance it is formed of a length of wood. The form of' handle illustrated has been found very efficient for its intended pur-` pose, and it will be noted that it is of substantially uniform cross-section throughout the major portion of its length, being tapered at its forward end and flattened to provide a head portion having spaced parallel side walls 3 and end walls 4. Preferably, the side and endnwalls 3-4 have the usual metal strap S bound thereabout.

The brush head 6 includes the desired number of brush bristles 7 having their inner ends thoroughly embedded in hard rubber or plastic, carried in a brush receptacle 8. This receptacle, preferably formed of metal, conforms in length to the Width of side walls 3, and is of a depth sutcient only to firmly retain the bristles 7. A hinge 9, pro vided at one side of the brush, pivotally connects the receptacle 8 to the outer end of the handle l, the hinge 9 being of any conventional construction and including in terftting eye portions and a pintle pin Ill passed therethrough. This permits the brush head 6 to be pivoted about the pin 10 to various angular positions relative to handle 1.

The ymeans for retaining the brush head 6 in the various angular positions to which it may be moved comprises a laterally flexible band 13, preferably formed of spring metal. Band 13 is preferably of a length and width substantially to cover one side Wall 3. It is attached, as by Soldering, brazing, or otherwise, along its upper marH ginal edge to the side wall 14 of receptacle 8 opposite `the hinge 9. It will be obvious that upon movement of brush head 6 to various angular positions the band 13 will slide relative to handle 1 and will be laterally cxed over the upper end if? t handle, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

Means is provided to retain the brush head in any given desired angular position, as well as to hold band 13 in any adjusted position with respect to handle 1, as may be dictated by the position of brush head 6. comprises a channel member 16, preferably of metal7 the web 17 of which is suitably secured to the metal strap 5, as by soldering, brazing or spotwelding, or by means of fasteners, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. Legs 18 of the channel member receive band with a friction lit, the lower or inner surfaces of the legs frictionally confining the band 13 between the legs 18 and web 17 of the channel 16. By rea-son of this channel member, the band is longitudinally rigid, but is laterally eXi-ble. It will also be observed that by reason of the flexing of band 1S over the end 15 of handle 1, a reactance force will be set up in the band tending to rotate its lower edge away from web 17 with the result that `ban-d 13 will be firmly pressed into cont-act with the inner surface of the free ends of legs 13. Preferably, legs 18 are slightly bowed, as shown, to provide substantially line contact therebetween and the 'band 13.

A stop member in the form of a bead 19 is provided along the lower defining edge of band 13 which contacts the channel member lo or legs 18 thereof to limit movement of the band. Such contact of stop w will be made with member 16, when the brush head is at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to handle 1.

To move the brush head to any desired angular position, it is only necessary to push band 13 upwardly, or to pull it downwardly, until the brush head assumes the desired angular position, the folded edge 19 facilitating thumb eng-agement o-f the brand by the user to effect ready adjustment of the brush head in both directions without requiring the user to grasp a wet part of the brush.

The modied form of device shown in Figure 4 is simi- 'lar in all material respects to the form of brush shown `in Figures l through 3, except that in Figure 4 the band 13 does not `necessarily have to have a friction it with 'channel member 16, as such band is provided with a longitudinal slot 2li, through which passes a screw 21, which Iis threaded into handle 1. Loosening and tightening said screw permits adjustment of band 13 relative to handle 1, 0r retention of the band in its adjusted position, respectively. If desired, the channel 16 Icould be eliminated in this embodiment, but I prefer to provide the channel to retain the band against damage.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described by way of example, it will be obvious that changes may be made therein within the Such means 4 spirit and scope of the invention and, therefor, the invention is not to be limited to the precise forms herein disclosed, except insofar as it may so be by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An adjustable brush comprising a handle having a relatively long narrow handle portion and a relatively short wide head portion, a brush head of substantially the same width as the head portion of said handle pivotally mounted `on said head portion at the free end and to one side thereof, a thin sheet metal band secured at one end to the side of said brush head opposite the pivotal mounting thereof, said band being of a width and length less than the corresponding dimensions of said head portion, and means slidably connecting said b-and to sa'id head portion at the side thereof opposite said pivotal mounting of said brush head, said band being liexible transversely of the plane thereof and slidable with respect to said handle to accommodate pivotal adjustment of said brush head to various angular positions relative to said handle, said band in all positions thereof being c'oniined within the area dened generally by the margins of said `brush head and said head portion, said means at least frictionally engaging said 'band for retaining said band in various positions of adjustment with respect to said head portion, said band being suiliciently rigid and being retained in adj-usted position on said head portion by said means to retain said brush head in adjusted angular position.

2. An adjustable brush comprising a handle, a brush head pivotally mounted on said handle at one end and to one side thereof, a thin sheet metal band secured at one end thereof to the `opposite side of said Abrush head, a channel guide mounted 0n said handle to the side thereof opposite said pivotal mounting, said guide slidably receiving the longitudinal edges of said band, said band 'being flexible transversely of the plane thereof and slidable with respect to said handle to accommodate pivotal adjustment of said head to various angular positions relative to said handle, said channel guide resiliently gripping said band to retain said band in various positions of adjustment with respect to said handle, said 'band being sufficiently rigid and being retained in adjusted position on said handle by said ch-annel guide to retain said brush head in adjusted angular position, and means on one end of said band cooperating with said channel guide to limit sliding movement of said 'band with respect thereto.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 953,729 Yoshikowa Apr. 5, l9l0 2,348,972 Gray May 16, l944 FOREIGN PATENTS 163,502 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1933 

